Linotype machine accessory



De. 24, 19410. D B ELUS 2,226,305

LNOTYPE MACHINE ACCESSORY Filed May 28, 194Q 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 1 is,-5.1 zmg jme/Wto@ I DQ/xefrJBE/'s Dec. 24, 1940. D, B. ELLIS LINOTYPEMACHINE ACCESSORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1940 1.74* Ilg I ,W 4 3um y Dec. 24, 1940. D. B. ELLIS 2,226,305

n LINOTYPE MACHINE ACCESSORY Filed May 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNrrEe ,STATES PATENT OFFICE LrNoTYPE MACHINEAccnssonv l..

Dexter B. Ellis, ogaemvtahf `f v I Application May2a194o,seria1No.337,716

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in type- Y clean of all surplusmetal accumulationsafter each casting operation, otherwise a `perfectfit of the mouthpiece against the mold will not be had at themornentwhen the molten metal is forced from the pot through the Vents inthe mouthpiece into the mold. Ifthe aforesaid accurate t is notmaintained between the mold and the mouthpiece when the two are in thecasting lockup position, then the molten metal squirts out and imperfecttype faces 'will result'. This faulty operation necessitates extra handlabor for the removal of surplus metal from the face of the mouthpiece,obviouslyl occasioning considerable loss of time and in many instances,damage to the face of the mouthpiece and mold.

lt is ccmmon knowledge that the line-casting mold must be cooled aftereach slug is cast, otherwise the mold will become so hot kthat theconetant iniiow of high temperatured metal will eventuate in a porousslug. When a slug of this type is subjected to the high pressure of amatrix molding machine or platen press, the face and base of said slugoften collapse. With this preamble in mind, the objects of the inventionare as follows: i

First, to provide an accessory for typecasting machines, specificallyfor the Mergenthaler Linotype machine, adapted to perform an automaticand simultaneous wiping of the mouthpiece of the met-al pot and an aircooling of the mold after each casting operation.

Second, to provide an accessory of the foregoing character which isattachable without the necessity oi drilling and tapping into oraltering the existing machine, which derives its required m0- tions fromcertain well-known moving parts of said machine and whichwill notinterfere with the normal operation of any part of the machine referredto.

Third, to provide a combined wiper and cooler for the purposes stated,wherein the rectilinear movement of the pump plunger rod is the mediumfor compelling a correspondingly rectilinear movement of the wiper bladeacross the` mouthpiece. 1 p v v Fourth, to provide a wiper-coolerwhich,while serving the dual purposeof wiping the mouthpiece and forcing coolair into the slug chamber, also acts as a cushion for the secondelevator lever in its upward sweep towards its contacting position withthe distributorbox bar ofa typecasting machine. v v

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,reference v being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevationof a portion of a typecasting machine,illustrating the application of the invention. v v

Figure 2 is a detail plan View of a portion of said machine,particularly illustrating the association of the wiper with the metalpot and the mold carrier wheel. V y

Figure 3 is a front elevation of themold wheel, illustrating therelationship thereto of the cooling and wiping devices. f

Figuree is a perspective viewl of the combined wiper and cooler. y f.

Figure 5 is a partially sectional vand lelevational View of thepump-wiper. f Y

Figure 6 is a perspective View of blade guide.

Figure? is a detail perspective view of the combined wiper and cooler,the latter being seen from the rear.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the wiper fblade. y y f Figure9 is a detail perspective view of the blade cover. Y

Figure l0 is a detail section taken substantially onthe line l0-'I0 ofFig. '7.

Figure l1 is a detail cross-section taken on the line I I-Il of Fig. 1'.v

Figure l2 is a cross-section taken substantially on the line I Z-IZ ofFig. 2.

Figure 13 is a detail section taken substantially on the line l 3-13 ofFig. 5. l

Figure 14 is a cross section on the line Illi4 of Fig. 5.y

Reference is firstmade to Fig. l. wherein the main frame of atype-casting machine of a known construction is generally designated I,a portion 43 of which is offset to define whatis aptly called a shelf.VThe cam shaft bracket 2 provides the support for a camshaft 4. Thisshaft is situated well within the interior of the-machine' and it`carries numerous cams from which the the wiper various functions of themachine are derived, one of these cams being designated 5.

A lever 6, commonly known as the second elevator lever, is pivoted at 1to a bracket 8 near the cam shaft 4. This lever has an arm 9 with aroller I0 that bears on the face of the cam 5. The rotation of the camcauses the periodic swinging of the lever 6 from the full to the dottedline position in Fig. 1 (arrow a), and this motion of the secondelevator lever is employed as the power source, so as speak, for theoperation of the combined wiper and cooler.

The typecasting machine also includes a pot II which contains a quantityo'f molten metal from which type slugs are cast. The arrangements forkeeping the pot supplied with metal and for keeping the latter in themolten state are not disclosed because they do not rel-alte to theinvention. It is sufficient to note that the metal pot II has adelivery-mouth I2 ('Fig. 12) which terminates at the mouthpiece I3. Thismouthpiece has a series of vents I4 (Fig. 3) through which vthe moltenmetal is expelled into thevslug cavity I5 (Fig. 12) of a slug mold orchamber I6 when the face I1 of said mouthpiece is moved into tightengagement with the mold I6. This action presupposes a periodic motionof .the metal pot II. This motion is derived from mechanism not shown,and it is suicient in extent to advance the pot far enough to bring theface I1 against the mold, as just stated, then to retract the mouthpieceto the approximate extent of the space I8 (Fig. 12) l The mold I6 asshown herein is one of a plurality of such molds carried by a wheel I9.This is a gear wheel, and the means and reasons for its periodicrotation are neither disclosed nor necessary to an understanding of theinvention. It is customary in some constructions to make themold-carrier wheel hollow or jacketed as at 20 (Fig. 12) for the purposeof a water cooling system. It has been found through years of experiencethat the water cooling device is not effective for the reason that thewater jacket ,is too far removed from the slug mold I6 which the wateris intended to cool. Thus an important part of the invention providesfor introducing periodic charges of air directly into the slug moldcavity I5 (Fig. 3) after each slug has been cast and ejected. 'Ihe moldis stationed in the ejecting position in Fig. 3, at which time the slugchamber I 5 is open to atmosphere making it possible to blow the air inand through and thus accomplish the cooling effect.

The importance of wiping the face I1 of the mouthpiece I3 clean has beenpointed out. This function is accomplished by a wiper 21 (Fig. 4). Thiswiper is the rst element of the invention, previously alluded to as theaccessory, and it consists of a blade 28 (Fig. 8) which is desirablymade of exible metal. At least one of the edges of the blade is serratedat 29. A cover 30 of felt, cloth or other desirable material is securedto the blade 28, the serrations 29 preventing the cover from slippingoif endwise or from rolling around the blade when the latter goesthrough its wiping action.

One end of Ithe blade 28 is secured to an arm 3|. which comprises anextension of the plunger rod 32. This rod works in a pump cylinder 33through and beyond the ends of which it extends as substantially shownin Fig. 5. The rod 32 carries a plunger 34 Wh-ich is operable in thecylinder 33 to produce the previously mentioned charges of air. Saidcylinder has one or more air vents 39a (Fig. 4) at which outside air isadmitted at the virtual limit of the plunger stroke in one direction.The plunger consists of a gasket 35 which is fitted between a pair ofholders 36. These, in turn, are held firmly in position by two beveleddowel pins 31 which are driven through holes in the plunger rod 32, andthey have holes off-centered at 36a (Fig. 14) Ito secure an eccentricposition of the r-od in respect to the cylinder for a purpose laterexplained.

An opening 38 in the otherwise closed end of the cylinder 33 (Fig. 5)provides for the passage of the adjacent part of the plunger rod. Theother end of the cylinder has a closure cap 39 which is secured to thethreaded end of the cylinder. This cap has a hole for the plunger rod. Anipple 40 on one side of the lcap (Fig. 5) matches an opening 4I in thecylinder 33 and provides communication of the interior of the latterwith an air tube 42 (Fig. 4) which leads down to a position over thet-op of the slug ejector (not shown) directly over the slug mold cavityI5 (Fig. 3), and secured in this position by any suitable means to themain frame of the machine.

A main supporting frame 44 carries most of the parts which comprise theaccessory. This frame includes a bracket 45 (Fig. 5) to which thecylinder 33 is secured at 46. The bracket has an extension 41 whichoverlies the cap 39 as well as a pair of air-retaining leather gaskets48. These gaskets, `as Well as the extension 41, are perforated for theplunger rod, the free end of the extension having a screw 49 driventhrough it into the top of the Aair cylinder cap for the purpose ofholding the air cylinder rigid to the frame. 'I'he frame 44 is slottedat 50 (Fig. '1) to make room for an existing projection on the mainframe of the machine I. In the present instance, said projectionconsists of the nut and bolt end shown in Fig. 1, and it may comprisethe projecting end of a transfer lever spring hook in some types of thismachine.

The frame 44 is curved and bent at 52 to conform to the previouslymentioned shelf 3. The frame is secured to portions of said shelf, forwhich purpose it has an arm 53 (Fig. 7) which is slotted at 54 for thepurpose of adjustment in respect to a securing bolt 55 which goesthrough the slot into the distributor bracket of main frame I (Fig. 1).

The bracket 41 terminates in a barrel 56 (Fig. 5) which is locatedcrosswise of the bottom end of the cylinder 33. This barrel hasregistering slots 51 through which the plunger rod 32 passes prior toits being bent into the arm extension 3I. One end of the barrel isoccupied by a spring 58 which abuts a hollow set screw 59 at one end anda plunger 60 at the other end. The plunger is kept pressed against oneside of the plunger rod, the other side of said rod thereby resting inthe crotch 6I (Fig. 13) of a solid set screw 62 which is driven into theother end of the barrel.

The adjustments of the set screw 62 regulate the contact of the wiper 21with the mouthpiece I3. If la closer contact is desired than is obtainedby any particular setting of the screw 62, the rod 32 is simply deectedfar enough to the left (Fig. 5) to release it from the crotch 6I,whereupon the screw 62 is given one or more inward quarter turns tostation the crotch that much farther inwardly .of the barrel 56. 'Iheslight bending of the rod 32 does not interfere with its reciprocation.

A clevis 63 surmounts the upper end of the :bracket B9. --from the frame44, is functionally a part therelof. Said bracket 69 has a slottedportion 1li` :which is secured, and adjustably so, to the frame 44 as at1I.

tached to a part of the lever 61. :its main bearing on the stud 68 andthe bearing 'from the mold 'carrier wheel I9 for.- the dislodgeplungerrod 32, being secured thereto in anyde- -sired way. The clevis has across pin 64 on which a'roller 55 is mounted.. This roller'travels in 'aslot 56 in the adjacent end of an operating lever 61. This lever ispivoted on a bearing. stud 68 which extends crosswise of an. upstandingThis bracket, although separate The bracket 69 is made somewhat in thenature .of a fork. The portions 12 are brought into :spaced andparalleled relationship to each other .so asto provide a passageway forthe lever 61.

One'end of a spring 13 is anchored in this passageway, the other end ofsaid spring being at- This lever has ismade flexible so that it canyield in case the wiper rod, for any unforeseen reason, is stalled inits downward movement. In such an event the spring 13 will be expandedby the upward movement of the second elevator lever 6 and allow thisbearing to slide upward in the vslot 59a, thus precluding anypossibility of damage Yto the second elevator lever or the mouthpiecewiper blade. Said lever is offset at 14 at a place adjacent to theanchorage of the spring, and is 'thereafter curved at 15 to .provide acam. The

previously mentioned power of the second eleva- 'tor lever 6 istransferred to the operating lever `61` on the upstroke of the former bymeans of a latch 16 (Fig. 1l) that iscarried by a clamp 11.

Said clamp comprises a block 18 to which the latch 16 is pivoted at 19.The block is attached to one of a pair of clamp halves 8l] and 8| whichare applied to the opposite sides of the lever 6.

` Said halves are connected by bolts,y 82, the actual fastening of theclamp to the lever 6 being accomplished by a pair of diverginglypositioned 'set screws 3 which are driven against the approximateoutside corners of the lever 6.

- When the second elevator lever 6 is raised (arrow a, Fig. l) the latch16 comes into engagement with the nether side of the cam 15.

ing an arrangement of clamp plates 35 and 86 which are secured by meansof bolts 81 to What is known in the existing machine as the mold wheelsupporting bracket 88 (Fig. 3).

ports the guide 84 closely adjacent to the mouthpiece I3. The guidingfunction is derived from a relatively tall plate 89, one edge of whichis beveled at 9E) to coact with the exposed tip Sl of. the wiper blade28. When the blade makes a down stroke, said tip engages the bevel 9i),which is located on that side of the plate 89 nearest the mouthpiece I3,causing the wiper to move in a rectilinear path directlyv across themouthpiece and without bending outwardly therefrom.

The operaticml` is readily understood. The second elevator lever 6swings up and down periodically and performs its functions in the knowntypecasting machine, and as it does, the metal pot II is stepped backThis `bracket is so situated that it conveniently supment of thepreviously cast type slug from the slug chamber l5 by action of theejector blade (not shown). It is at this period of the operation of thetypecasting machine that the space I8y (Fig. 12) becomes evident, andvit is at this `moment that the invention performs its part `ing oftheoperating lever S1 (dotted lines, Fig. .1). The spring 13 is stretchedby this-swinging. The actions of the wiper 21 and pump plunger 34 areperformed` simultaneously because they are commonly carried by theplunger rod 32. The downstroke of the plunger 34 is responded to by adownstroke of the wiper 21. When the plunger-is forced downward itpasses beyond the air vents, allowing cool air to enter the aircompression cylinder, vand when the plunger is moved upward by action ofthe spring 13, it passes these air vents and forces the air entrappedahead of it through tubey 42 into the slug chamber I5, at the same timemoving the wiper 21 upwardly across the mouthpiece I3.

These acts occur after every revolution of the mold wheel I 9 land whenthe mold I5 thereof stops at the ejecting position (Fig. 3), at whichtime coolair isforced directly intofthe slug mold cavity, cooling thetop, bottoni'and both sides of the entire mold. It is important to -notelthat the cooling part of this accessorycools only the vmold that isbeing used to cast type slugs. V

It is also important to note -that the motions of the wiper 21 arerectilinear. This desirable function is a main contribution of theplunger 34 and the metalpot jacket that an `air cylinder v withsufficient air capacity to emciently cool the mold cannot beaccommodated if the holes in the plunger were centered, and allow theoperating rod to clear the pot jacket and the line delivery lever. Inother words,.the air cylinder must be Acrowded againstthefframe of themachine and the cylinder cap milled off on the right-hand side to' givethe operating lever 4space f to clear the vupper portion of themouthpiece in its upward and downward moyeifnent.V In this operation themouthpiece wipery operating rod has less than one iive-hundredth'of aninch clearance. So the wiper rod mustbe crowded over as close aspossible to the right-hand side ofthe air cylinder, making the gasketholders eccentric in position and, the holes in them off-center.

The latch 15gfunctions as follows: when the vsecond elevator lever 6descends from its position at the distributor boxv bar (not shown) tocontact the intermediate line transfer channel, it depresses this latchand allows the latch to go under the voperating lever 51, and when thesecond elevator '5 starts its upward movement the latch contacts the cam15 and rides therealong,

propelling wiper rod 32 downward and causing the mouthpiece wiper bladeto pass over the face of the mouthpiece.

The coil spring T3 brings the wiper blade back to its normal positionabove the pot mouthpiece. The latch 16 loses contact with the cam 15when the second elevator lever is about threefourths the distance inrits upward movement to contact the distributor box bar.

I claim:

1. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination a pump cylinder, aplunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube leading down from the aircylinder tothe rear of the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece,a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that the wiper movesrectilinearly in consonance with the plunger, and means operated by themotion of said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air ilow throughsaid chamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper `acrossthe mouthpiece.

2. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom -the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, anair tube lproviding air communication of the cylinder with the interiorof the slug chamber, a Wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonlycarrying the plunger and wiper, said rod supporting the wiper inposition at one side of the mouthpiece, and means operated by the motionof said lever to actuate the plunger rod in one vdirection tosimultaneously displace the plunger and wiper in the same direction,thereby to cause an air ow into and through said chamber and a wipingaction of the wiper across the mouthpiece.

3. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, anair tube providing air communication of the cylinder with the interiorof the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonlycarrying the plunger and wiper, said rod supporting the wiper inposition at one side of the mouthpiece, means operated by the motion ofsaid lever to actuate the plunger rod in one direction to simultaneouslydisplace the plunger and wiper in the same direction, thereby to cause awiping action of the wiper across said mouthpiece, and means put undertension by said motion of the lever, actuatingthe plunger rodindependently of said lever and in the opposite direction to cause anair flow through said chamber and a reverse wiping action.

4. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination, air pumping means incommunication with the slug chamber and having a reciprocable part forproducing an air current through said chamber, wiper means supported bysaid reciprocable part in line with the mouthpiece but spaced awaytherefrom, an operating lever coupled to the pumping means thereby toimpart motion to its reciprocable part and to the wiper means, and amember attached to the elevator lever, adapted to engage said operatinglever for the transfer of motion.

5. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, aplunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing aircommunication of the cylinder with the Aslug chamber, a wiper to wipethe mouthpiece, a

rod commonly carrying the plunger and Wiper so that the wiper moves inconsonance with the plunger, means operated by the motion of said Aleverto actuate said rod to cause an air flow through said chambersimultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, and guide meansstationed contiguously to said mouthpiece to guide said wiper in arectilinear path across and in contact with said mouthpiece.

6. An accessory for a typecasting machine comprising a pump cylinder, aplunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube leading from the cylinderfor the passage of an air current to a slug chamber, a wiper to traversethe mouthpiece of a metal pot, a rod commonly carrying the plunger andwiper, and an operating lever coupled to the plunger rod for producingsimultaneous air currents and wiping actions upon at least one stroke ofsaid rod imparted thereto by the operating lever.

'7. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, aplunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing aircommunication of the cylinder with the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe themouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that thewiper moves in consonance with the plunger, means operated by the motionof said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air ow through saidchamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, and meansacting' against the plunger rod, serving to adjustably hold the wiper toa determined line of movement across the face of the mouthpiece.

8. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom the mold, and an elevator lever partaking of a swinging motionduring said period of retraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, aplunger operable in the cylinder, an air tube providing aircommunication of the cylinder with the slug chamber, a wiper to wipe themouthpiece, a rod commonly carrying the plunger and wiper so that thewiper moves in consonance with the plunger, means operated by the motionof said lever to actuate said rod to cause an air flow through saidchamber simultaneously with a wiping action of said wiper, and meansguiding the plunger rod, being adjustable in respect to said rod toguide the rod along selected paths and thus hold the wiper to acorresponding line of movement across the face of the mouthpiece.

9. A typecasting machine having a mold with a slug chamber, a metal potperiodically retractable from the mold so as to space its mouthpiecefrom said means and terminating in a mouth-4 from the mold, and anelevator lever partaking of a. swinging motion during said period ofretraction; in combination, a pump cylinder, a plunger operable in thecylinder, an air tube providing air communication of the cylinder withthe slug chamber, a Wiper to Wipe the mouthpiece, a rod commonlycarrying the plunger and wiper so that the Wiper moves in consonancewith the plunger, means operated by the motionof said lever to actuatesaid rod to cause an air ow through said chamber simultaneously with awiping action of said wiper, an element guiding the plunger rod, saidelement being adjustable to direct the rod along any one of several-paths and ythus to hold the Wiper to a corresponding line of movement,and resilient means acting against the rod to slidably hold the rod.against said element.

10. An accessoryy for a typecasting machine comprising a main supportingframe securable to the frame of said machine, air jet discharging meansmounted on the frame, a plunger forming part of said means, including arod extending piece Wiper blade, and an operating lever movably mountedon said supporting frame, having a coupling at one end to said plungerrod and having a formation at the other end adapted to be engaged by anactuating member, thereby to simultaneously actuate the air jet meansand mouth-piece Wiper.

11. An accessory for a typecasting machine comprising a main supportingframe securable to the frame of said machine, a bracket comprising partof said supporting frame and terminating in a barrel, a reciprocableplunger rod extending through the barrel and terminating in a Wiperblade, an operating lever movably mounted on said supporting frame,having one end coupled to the plunger rod and the other end adapted tobe engaged by an actuating member, adjustable means in the barrel havinga crotch in which the rod is slidable, andresilient means also in thebarrel, exerting pressure against the rod to keep it in said crotch.

DEXTER B. ELLIS.

